I am a huge fan of fashion illustration. Carol Woolton's book, Drawing Jewels for Fashion, is an absolute gem!! It is the first book I have ever seen that focuses solely on the art of illustration of jewelry design.

In Woolton's introduction she writes, "For some time I have wanted to explore contemporary jewellery design, to chart designers' inspirations as well as their relationship with the art of drawing from the first original sketch to the finished sculpted objet. The perfect jewel creates a physical as well as an emotional response, and this response is engineered by the creative process of a jewellery designer. Every drawing depicts individual designer's lines, styles and forms as well as their personal influences. Each jeweller uses their own unique aesthetic to explore the world around us, whether the natural world, art, architecture, culture, literature, symbolism, or history and ancient civilisations."

Woolton is not only successful in her exploration, but she surpasses her vision for her book. This book is one of the most inspiring I have seen in a long time. I have seen many vintage illustrations of jewelry design but was naive to the fact that drawing jewels for fashion was still a thriving art.

Woolton's book features work from some of my most favorite jewelry designers: Sevan Bicakci, Lydia Courteille, Stephen Webster, Victoire de Castellane, Delfina Delettrez, Shaun Leane, and introduces me to many more inspiring designers that I did not know about. For every designer, there are illustrations paired with the finished designs.

Victoire de Castellane

photos Dior Joaillerie

Stephen Webster

Alexandra Jefford

photos Paul Bowden

Carol Woolton is jewellery editor of British Vogue, an author, lecturer and style commentator on fashion and jewellery.